The Adventist Church in the Southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD), through its Adventist Youth Ministries, brought together 750 Master Guides in Malaysia for the growth and strengthening of Junior Youth Ministries (JYM). The convention, held in Port Dickson, Malaysia, from October 3-7, 2024, welcomed participants from SSD’s nine unions, one attached conference, one attached mission, and Master Guides from Papua New Guinea.

Understanding Pathfindering and the Role of Master Guides

Pathfindering is a worldwide youth organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, similar to scouting, designed to mentor and guide young people aged 10 to 15 in their personal, social, and spiritual growth. Pathfinders engage in activities that promote leadership, outdoor skills, and community service, while also learning about Christian values and deepening their faith in God.

The Master Guide program, on the other hand, is a leadership training program for adults and older youth who wish to work closely with Pathfinders and other Junior Youth Ministries. Master Guides are spiritual mentors and role models, trained to nurture young people in their faith journey, helping them grow in practical skills and guiding them towards a life of service and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Master Guide Club is one of the highest levels of youth leadership within the Adventist Church, preparing individuals to become effective leaders within their churches and communities.

A Four-Part Strategy for Spiritual and Leadership Growth

Under the theme "Rebuild the Altar," the gathering sought to inspire Master Guides to rebuild their personal spiritual altars, just as the Bible character Elijah did, while empowering them to help Adventurers, Pathfinders, fellow Master Guides, and other young people restore their faith. The event also focused on equipping attendees with leadership skills, encouraging them to take active roles in evangelistic efforts like the Voice of Youth, uniting Master Guides across SSD, and strengthening the Master Guide Club throughout the region to enhance the impact of Junior Youth Ministries.

To achieve the convention's objectives, the event was divided into four major sections. The first, the "Rebuild the Altar" series, utilized the book The Way Back to the Altar to guide Master Guides in rebuilding their personal spiritual altars and empowering them to help others do the same. Plenary sessions followed, focusing on empowering Master Guides to engage in missionary endeavors and foster unity among the group. The business meetings concentrated on the formation of the Master Guide Club within the SSD territory and setting strategic direction for Junior Youth Ministries. Finally, breakout sessions were designed to enhance the skills of Master Guides as they minister to Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs.

Master Guides Call Delegates to Rebuild their Altar

Busi Khumalo, Adventist General Conference Youth director, opened the convention with a message titled “Come to Jesus as You Are.” He encouraged Master Guides to come to Jesus just as they are, fix their eyes on Him, and let Him transform their hearts. He also urged them and youth leaders to show grace and guidance to struggling young people, following Jesus’ example of acceptance.

In a written message, Roger Caderma, SSD president, reflected on the theme “Rebuild the Altar,” reminding MGs to restore their devotion, just as Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord (1 Kings 18:30). He called on them to “unite in purpose, rebuild the altar, and rekindle their hearts for God.”

Jacinto Adap, SSD treasurer, introduced the seven steps of The Way Back to the Altar and emphasized that Master Guides have a significant responsibility—not just to guide the youth, but to inspire them to build strong personal relationships with God.

Essential Skills and Strategic Direction

The plenary sessions explored key topics essential to the growth of Master Guides as leaders of Pathfinders and Adventurers. Discussions included maintaining "Digital Hygiene for Ministry Professionals," the importance of "Community-Based Pathfindering," and understanding the role of Master Guides. Risk management in youth events, leadership development, and safeguarding children were also highlighted. These sessions aimed to equip Master Guides with practical tools for ministry and personal leadership, while emphasizing the importance of community-based discipleship.

In addition to the plenary sessions, breakout workshops offered further insights into crucial areas. Master Guides were able to deepen their skills in land navigation, disaster preparedness, utilizing AI for youth ministry, and conducting Pathfinder inspections, among other relevant topics.

The convention also held productive business meetings, where several key outcomes were achieved: the approval of the SSD Adapted Master Guide Club Manual, the launch of an e-book for Pathfinder Honors and Adventurer Awards, and the development of a baseline assessment of the current state of Junior Youth Ministries (JYM).

Strengthening Youth Ministries Through Collaboration

Each union and attached mission or conference contributed strategies aimed at achieving their faith-based goals. Among these were promoting Pathfinder and Adventurer ministries in all churches and empowering pastors and leaders through refresher courses and mentoring. They also emphasized the importance of collaboration with other departments to strengthen youth ministries. Some unions committed to studying churches that do not have Pathfinder or Adventurer clubs to understand and address the underlying reasons, while also establishing clubs in targeted churches. Efforts are being made to ensure pastors are active in these ministries, or, if not, to empower willing church members to take on leadership roles. Additional strategies included organizing training for club ministries, increasing promotion through digital resources and social media, and forming Master Guide clubs to expand the number of invested Master Guides. To support the growth of these ministries, unions planned to appoint Adventurer and Pathfinder directors at various levels, identify pilot churches, and raise funds for club activities.

The SSD-Wide Master Guide Convention was a spiritually enriching experience, filled with inspirational messages, empowering session on skills and leadership development, cultural exchange, and fellowship. The theme “Rebuild the Altar” resonated deeply throughout the event, encouraging all in attendance to return to their foundations and recommit their lives to God’s service.

The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division website.